As a professional organizer, Maggie McDonald brings order to messy situations. But when a good friend becomes a murder suspect, surviving the chaos is one tall task . . .

Despite a looming deadline, Maggie thinks she has what it takes to help friends Jason and Stephen unclutter their large Victorian in time for its scheduled renovation. But before she can fill a single bin with unused junk, Jason leaves for Texas on an emergency business trip, Stephen’s injured mastiff limps home—and Stephen himself lands in jail for murder. Someone killed the owner of a local Chinese restaurant and stuffed him in the freezer. Stephen, caught at the crime scene covered in blood, is the number one suspect. Now Maggie must devise a strategy to sort through secrets and set him free—before she’s tossed into permanent storage next . . .

In ” an Oyster Shell – A little slow so it was hard to get into. It had a great mystery.

The Pearls – The storyline was solid for the most part. There were good conflict and a good mystery. The stakes were really high so it made for a more interesting narrative.

The characters were good. It was really good to see the noble side of Steven. He’s already been a pretty noble character in the series but the author steps it up for this installment. He sacrifices a lot in the story for a good cause. Maggie and the dogs where the stars and where fun to follow.

This book highlights the homeless in this story. I thought it was a good portrayal of a social issue. I liked how the book gives ideas on how to help the homeless. The principles can be applied to the reader’s life.

The Sand – The story was slow at times. I wasn’t completely satisfied with the ending.

About Mary Feliz

Mary Feliz has lived in five states and two countries but calls Silicon Valley home. Traveling to other areas of the United States, she’s frequently reminded that what seems normal in the high-tech heartland can seem decidedly odd to the rest of the country.

A big fan of irony, serendipity, diversity, and quirky intelligence tempered with gentle humor, she strives to bring these elements into her writing, although her characters tend to take these elements to a whole new level.

She’s a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Authors Guild where she feels at home among those plot to kill. She’s also a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers who seem less blood-thirsty and more interested in the skeletons in the closet.